Head form for artists&#39; and sculptors&#39; use



y 1, 1956 E. G. HANKS 2,743,535

HEAD FORM FOR ARTISTS AND SCULPTORS' USE Filed Aug. 26, 1952 5 Sheets-Shae; l

INI'EN'I' rromvn May 1, 1956 E. G. HANKS 2,743,535

HEAD FORM FOR ARTISTS AND SCULPTORS USE Filed Aug. 26, 1952 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT QTTORNEY I 1 2,743,535 HEAD FORM FOR ARTISTS AND SCULPTORS USE Emily Grace Hanks, New York, N. Y.

I Application August 26, 1952, Serial No. 306,405

'12 Claims. or. 35-26) I This invention relates to an artists or sculptors educational device and is an improvement on my Patent No. 1,840,507, granted January 12, 1932.

The general objects of such a device are set forth-in my above mentioned patent although it maybe briefly stated that the device is intended to acquaint art students and the like with the basic and fundamental proportions of the human head. The device of the instant invention is intended to increase the sensitivenessand awareness of the artist or student with the contours of the head which are common to practically. all individuals. Thus, after. a relatively short period of study, practice, and assimilation of the teachings afforded by the device, the artist may produce a wide range of caricatures,if desired, without making any appreciable change from the average skull structure which is depicted by the device. I

- The device as illustrated in my prior patent was found by me to embody some inadequacies and defects. For example, being completely solid, ;it was relatively expensive to produce and rendered certain head positions diificul t to visualize and comprehend. These defects, are corrected, as will be hereinafter shown, by the article of the ,instant invention which is not only extremely simple in fabrication and construction but which provides advan-. tages not heretofore possible in any prior art device. Thus, the head form of the instant invention isconstructed in accordance with the basic planes and cross-sections of the human head. -By employing substantially only such planes, it is far more easy to visualize certain perspectives and to appreciate the changes and contours as the head form is moved or rotated into various positions.

1 The head form is preferably, but not necessarily, made of cardboardor plastic sheets or the like and it may be assembled and taken apart if desired for study. Its elements are held together by folding, or. by tabs or the like which project from the sheets so that such sheets may be easily separated and assembled ordisassembled.

Another advantage of the device of thezinstant inven-' tion is that by the utilization of planes rather than three dimensional elements, the device can more readily serve as an armature or skeleton for sculpturing. Thus, the chambers formed by the plane elements may be filled with a conventional sculpturing or molding substance such as Plasticene and molded into a sculptured head. Furthermore, the fact that the device is made of cardboard or plastic sheeting, permits some changes to be made by cutting or otherwise modifying the sheets if desired, to represent diverse forms or individual eccentricities of head structures. 1

The invention will be further understood from the following description and drawingsin which:

Figures 1 to 19 show the individual blanks or elements employed to make up the completed head form. Thus, Figure 1 is the front-to-back, vertical plane of the improved head form, this plane representing theprofile of the head;

Figure 2 is the center, side-to-side,vertical plane;

United States Patent Figure 3 is the front brow horizontal plane; Figure 4 is the rear brow level horizontal plane; Figures 5 and 6 are the central, horizontal eye socket planes;

Figures 7 and 8 are the lower eye socket or cheek bone horizontal plane;

Figures 9 and 10 are the side pieces; Figuresll and 12 are the eye pieces; Figure 13 is the chin to lower eye socket piece; Figures 14 and 15 are the cheek pieces; Figure 16 is one form of nose base; I

Figure 17 is a second form of nose base which provides the nose with a width of bridge; Figure 18 is a hand-hold strip by which the head maybe manually supported; I t Figure 19 is a tab support for maintaining some of the parts in position;

form

, Figure 20 is a side view of the assembled head form;

Figure 21 is a rear view; Figure 22 is a top view; Figure 23 is a front view;

Figure 24 is a perspective view on a reduced scale; and

' indicating the slots in the side-to-side, center, vertical plane 30 illustrated in Figure 2. Thus, a line 32 may be' drawn across the member 30 so as to pass over the slots 31 and the drawing thereof may be guided by the notches ,Horizontal lines 35 and 36 may then be drawn across the row of slots comprising horizontal slots 37 and 37a and across second horizontal row comprising the slots 38 and 38a. One line for each row may suffice, being drawn completely across the row and even across the ears. As

will be hereinafter understood, the line 35 which is drawnacross the ears is helpful in understanding the position of the ears in drawing the head in difficult positions. In order to guide the accuracy of line 35, a pair of notches 40 are formed in the cars 41. Line 35 is the important line, as aiding in establishing aud'visualizing the position of the ears in relation to the other elements of the head. It is also recommended that a line 42 be drawn from the brow slot 43 in Figure l to the back slot 44 thereof.

The elements may now be assembled by connecting vertical, side-to-side plane or sheet 30 with the vertical, front-to-back plane or sheet 45. Thus, the elongated slot 46 of plane 30 is slipped over the center of plane 45 until the upper end of slot 46 rests in the lower end of slot 47. It should be observed that the pencil line 42 is in horizontal alignment with the pencil line 32. Thereafter, the front brow horizontal plane 50, illustrated in Figure 3, is connected to plane 30 by inserting the tabs 51 into the slots 31, observing that the rear edge of plane 30 is in alignment with line 32.

At this point, the hand hold member 52, illustrated in Figure 18, should be bent centrally along the line 53 and it should then be slipped over the hand hold portion 54 of plane 30 until notches 55, which have been rendered coincident by the bending, enter slot 56 of plane 45 where member 52 is held in its furthermost i 60 serve as a guide therefor.

The ears 41 should now be bent rearwardly and lines Lines 60, it will boob-.-

Thus, hand hold member 52 provides a firm' served, are spaced slightly outwardly from the sides of the head as visualized by the outlines of plane 30, and they may be scored so as to facilitate such rearward bending. The outward spacing of the lines provides a clear area for the hinge action of the side piece 61 and 62 shown in Figures 9 and 10 respectively. It is recomemnded that the ears be bent backward to a 45 angle at this time although further bending can be made subsequently as desired.

The next step is to apply the side pieces 61 and 62 which represent the sides of the human head. It will be observed that these side pieces are formed with central slots 63 and the respective cars 41 are slipped through these slots by a rotating action and the connection serves to maintain the side pieces in position. The side pieces are also formed with upwardly disposed, smaller slots 64 into which the tabs 65 of plane 30 are slipped so as to eifect more secure retention of the side pieces. The side pieces are further formed with arms 65 which permit them to be locked together as will be hereinafter explained. It will be observed that each side piece is formed with a triangularly shaped cut-out portion 66, such cut-out portion representing the eye socket area. The side pieces are formed with lower portions 61a and 62a adapted to be bent inwardly along the lines 67 and 68 respectively. These lower portions represent the downwardly and backwardly sloping portions of the mastoid area of the human head and are extremely useful in visualizing the rear portions of the head.

The next step is to connect the rear brow horizontal plane 70 which is illustrated in Figure 4. Plane 70 is formed with a pair of side tabs 71 and 72 which should first be bent downward along the lines 73 and 74. Slot 75 is then slipped perpendicularly into slot 44 so as to,

secure plane 70 in place. It will be observed that tabs 51 which have been inserted into and through slits 31, also serve to support the rear brow horizontal plane 70. The side tabs 71 and 72 both space the side pieces properly and help maintain plane 70 in position by resting against the inwardly bent lower portions 61a and 62a (Figs. 9, 10, 21 and 24).

At this time, the side pieces may be locked to each other by bending the arms 65 into arcuate form and slipping them into the slot 76 of the opposite side piece as illustrated in Figure 21. The center, horizontal eye socket planes 80 and 81, shown in Figures and 6 are now applied below the plane 50, and on either side of nose 82. Thus, the tabs 83 of plane 80 are slipped through the slots 370 so that the slot 86 of plane 81 is foremost. This permits retention of the eyes as will hereinafter be explained. It should be observed that the rear edge. of planes 80 and 81 is in alignment with line 35.

At this time, the lower eye socket or horizontal cheek bone indicating planes 90 and 91, may be applied in alignment with line 36. Thus, tabs 92 of plane 90 are slipped through slots 38 while tabs 93 of plane 91 are slipped through slots 38a. The next step is to apply the eyes 95 and 96 (Figs. 11 and 12). The eyes are also planar and are formed with a central, longitudinal slot 97 and may be provided with a transverse line 98. The rear of the eye is thus formed with two pieces 99 and 100, each of which should be bent perpendicularly in opposite directions along the line 98. These pieces 99 and 100 thus become bracing feet. The eyes are then slipped over the central, horizontal eye socket planes 80 and 81 respectively by inserting the elongated slots 97 into the respective slots 84 and 86 of eye socket planes 80 and 81..

The eyes are pushed inwardly until the feet 99 and 100 rest against plane 30, foot 99v resting above slots 37 while foot 100 rests below them.. This braces the eyes and maintains them in position. It will be observed that the eyes 95 and 96 are formed with outer edge cut-out portions 101, these representing the eyeballs as will be evident.

' 111 in position.

It may be noted at this time that some artists or sculptors may prefer not .to use the eyes in which case it is considered desirable to support the planes 80, 81, and 91 by additional means other than the eye pieces. Accordingly, plane 45 (Fig. 1) is formed with a slot into which the tab support 106 shown in Figure 19, may be inserted to rest immediately below the planes 80 and 81 so as to support them. Likewise a slot 107 formed in plane 45 may receive another tab support 106 to support the lower eye socket planes 90 and 91.

Thus far, the chin 110 as shown in Figure 1 is but a single vertical plane whereas it may be desirable to add some width thereto for further increasing the versatility of the head form. For this purpose, the elongated strip 111 illustrated in Figure 13, is applied around and under the chin. Thus, strip 111 is first bent along lines 112, 113 and 114 and the tabs 115 are slipped into two adjoining slots 38 and 38a, the same slots wherein two adjacent tabs 92 and 93 were inserted. Central longitudinal slot 116 of tab 111-then embraces plane 45 in the region of the nose and section 117 extends below the planes 90 and 91. "Section 118 then extends from the lower eye socket planes 90 and 91 to the chin as illustrated in the composite view of Figure 24.

It will be observed that the lower portion of slot 116 fits into the front portion of the chin.

inserted into slots 122 (Figure 2) so as to secure strip It will be further noted that slot 121 of strip 111' is inserted into diagonal slot 122 of plane 45 (Figure 1) while the end 123 of slot 116 tests in slot 124 of plane 45 (Figure l).

The head is now completed, it being noted, however, that the nose 82 is disposed in a single vertical plane. ltis often desirable to add some width thereto and for this purpose a nose base (Figure 16) may be employed. Nose base .130is formed with tabs 131 separated by a central slot 132. It will be observed that slot 116 (Figure 13) is provided with a transverse slot portion133. The tabs 131 are slipped through the slot section 133 so that'the trapezoidal shaped section 134 serves as a "base for the nose.

It may further be desired to provide width for the nose bridge and in this case, the nose piece135 is employed instead of nose piece 130. Nose piece 135 is formed similarly to nose piece 130 save that it is provided with an extension 136 which should be bent along the lines 137 and 138. The nose piece is inserted as before but the extension 136 is bent upwardly as illustrated in Figure 24 and theslot between end tabs 139 is inserted directly over the top of the nose as illustrated in Figure 24. This maintains the nose base in position.

In Figure 25 is illustrated the insertion of a check piece 140 (see Figs. 14 and 15), which with the complementary cheek piece 141, form simulated cheek areas representing atransverse cross-section of the cheeks. They may be inserted into the jaw cavity illustrated in Figure 4 and their length'is such as to cause them to bow slightly and be retained in place by their inherent spring action. Each cheek piece may be provided with cut-outs 142 which permits'the element to fit against section 117 of the strip 111.

In the use of the completed device illustrated in Fig-. ures 22 and 25, the student or artist may hold the head form in his hand and rotate it to observe the relative movements ofthe planes. Inasmuch as the planes are spaced from each other without including solid matter between them, the changes in contours and relationships become very clear as the head is moved or rotated. Thus, when the read is rotated from the position of Figure 20 to-that of Figure 24, the vertical sheets or planes 45, 61 and 62 can be visualized as approaching each other in a very distinctmanner. This is very helpful in acquainting the student with the contours of the head in such a position. 1 In thesame way, all the other elements of the head Section 119 of: strip 111 forms the floor of the chin while tabs 120 are gest themselves to the user.

assume corresponding positions. The relationship of the eyes, nose, chin and ears is clearly recognized in various aspects. The line 35 is also of assistance in showing the relationship or slant of the ears with respect to the sides of the head particularly in upwardly or downwardly tipped positions of the'head. It has been found that the use of such a device increases the students knowledge of the basic structure of the human head to such an extent that he is soon able to draw caricatures, various head positions or head characteristics of various racial types with surprising accuracy.

As mentioned hereinabove, the head form as illustrated in Figure 24 may be used as an armature or skeleton by filling in the chambers between the planes with a sculpturing or molding substance. Thus, a sculptured head may be produced which will be of excellent accuracy in proportion and will contain the head form therein.

It will be recognized that whereas a large number of elements have been described and illustrated in order to provide the greatest degree of utility, manyplanes or sections may be omitted when a simpler device is sufficient for particular purposes. Thus, even the provision of the center, front-to-back vertical plane sheet together with the side pieces properly connected thereto, as by the front brow plane 50, is operative for visualizing the basic vertical planes of the human head in various and changing Other simple combinations may readily sug- For example, a form comprising merely the front-to-back plane 45 and the side-toside plane 30 properly connected thereto is of utility. The addition of the front brow horizontal plane 30 thereto may serve as a connection means while further augmenting the utility of the structure.

What is claimed is:

l. A head form for artists comprising a series of verpositions.

tically disposed sheets spaced from each other to represent various vertical planes of the human head and means connecting said sheets together, the spacing between the sheets being adapted to permit the application of molding material therein.

2. A head form for artists comprising a vertically disposed sheet shaped so as to represent the center, front-toback vertical plane of the human head and a vertical sheet connected to and extending perpendicularly to said 4. A head form for artists comprising a central, ver- 2 tically'disposed sheet representing the central front-toback vertical plane of the human head, a nose formed a on said vertical sheet, a pair of side pieces on the respective sides of said vertical sheet and spaced therefrom opening outwardly of said form and adapted to permit the insertion of molding material therein within the confines of said head form.

5. A device according to claim 4 and a pair of ears formed on respective opposite side edges of said side-toside vertical sheet.

6. A device according to claim 5 and wherein said side-to-side vertical sheet is formed with an elongated slot for embracing said front-to-back vertical sheet and maintaining said sheets in perpendicular relationship.

7. A head form for artists or the like comprising a central, vertically disposed sheet representing the central front-to-back vertical plane of the human head, a pair of side pieces on the respective sides of said vertical plan sheet and spaced therefrom to represent the sides of the human head, a centrally disposed, side-to-side vertical sheet extending perpendicularly to said front-to-back vertical plane sheet and extending from approximately the center of one side piece to the center of the other, and a horizontal sheet disposed perpendicularly to both the front-to-back vertical plane sheet and the side-to-side vertical sheet and at the front brow level of the head, said vertical sheets, side pieces and horizontal sheet defining between them hollow internal areas opening outwardly of said form and adapted to permit the application of molding material therein.

8. A device according to claim 7 and wherein said front brow level horizontal sheet is connected to said center side-to-side vertical sheet, said connection comprising tabs extending from said brow horizontal sheet through slots formed in said side-to-side vertical sheet.

9. A device according to claim 7 and including horizontal sheet means disposed below said brow horizontal sheet and extending in a plane parallel thereto and spaced therefrom to represent the base of the eye socket in the human head.

10. A device according to claim 9 and including second horizontal sheet means disposed centrally between said brow horizontal sheet and said base of the eye socket horizontal sheet means, said second horizontal sheet means representing the central horizontal eye socket plane of the human head.

11. A series of blanks adapted for interconnection to form a head form for artists use comprising at least three sheets adapted for vertical connection, one of said sheets having the shape of a vertical plane through the human head from the front-to-back thereof so as to include a nose shape, and a pair of side pieces adapted for spaced connection to said plane sheet for representing the sides of the human head.

12. A series according to claim 11 and including a second sheet shaped like a central side-to-side' vertical plane of the human head and adapted for connection to said first-named vertical plane sheet, a pair of cars formed on the respective side edges of said side-to-side vertical sheet, and horizontal sheet means adapted for connection to said side-to-side vertical sheet and representing the lower eye socket horizontal plane of the human head.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Rebholz Jan. 11,1944 

